I hate this part of a rebuild. You can see they're playing better but still your in the basement. Then you have to wonder if the better play will last. Are we playing are best basketball now? Or is the best yet to come? Do the freshman hit a wall or do they continue to come on? So many questions but we'll see.
It was textbook hook and hold. Hate the rule, but it was exactly the right call.
I think we should be okay. We were more athletic than Wisconsin, and our length caused them some trouble at times. Those things should translate to the rest of the conference schedule. Wisconsin was just really good and executed when it counted.
I see your point but another competent ball handler could relieve Baker or free him up to focus more on scoring. We definitely need a consistent inside scoring threat as well.
agreed. Shaq Carter looked really good and efficient around the rim. On one of his buckets, Happ fouled him twice and still no call. He fouled him with a push from the back on the entry pass and then when he went up. Shaq Carter showed me a nice ability to finish around the rim. Nothing fancy either. Simply using head fakes and the back board, which I wish more of our players would do rather than going for the showtime finish
Like I said, I hate the rule and the emphasis this year on it. Just call a regular foul and move on. If they want to emphasize safety, maybe emphasize moving picks in the backcourt, especially, when teams are pressing and guys are turning to chase the ball handler and run smack into the biggest guy on the floor, who slides just enough to hammer the defender, like Happ did last night. That's akin to the "defenseless" WR rule in football where a guy catches his ball with his back to the D and then turns and is hammered by the defense. Nowhere else on the court, usually, are picks so dangerous, as they are when pressing in the backcourt and the guys chasing have no clue a 250-300 pound mountain is going to be there when they turn to chase the offense.
